"Get down, now!"

The train is screaming down the tracks, out of control, barreling toward the burning city.

A man and a woman dive under a table as metal wails, the entire carriage rattling like it's seconds from tearing itself apart.

Then, with a sickening CRASH, the side of the train bursts open. Metal peels back like paper, as if some invisible force ripped it apart. The train lurches violently, slamming the two off their feet just as something else lands onboard.

Something monstrous.

A figure leaps into the carriage.

Violetta gasps. Lain, injured and leaning on his sword, stares in shock.

They've seen this creature before. Days ago, she was their friend. Now?

Now she's Medusa.

Her once beautiful hair writhes with slimy tentacles, reeking of rot. Her skin is blistered, splitting open where it shouldn't be. In her hands, she wields a wicked, black scythe that hums with malevolent energy. A Mythical Weapon.

Her bloodshot eyes lock onto the two of them. A jagged, shark-toothed grin spreads across her face.

And then, she moves.

"Violetta, no!"

Lain's voice is raw, but she's already charging forward.

"I have to take her down!"

She swings her staff - hard. Medusa blocks with her scythe, exactly what Violetta wants.

CRACK!

Electric magic surges, wrapping Medusa in glowing, binding chains.

A Secret Art. She's trapped.

Violetta tightens her grip. One more swing and this fight is over.

She swings. Full force.

Medusa smiles.

Her body shifts.

Violetta's eyes widen - too late. Medusa dislocates her own limbs, twisting in impossible directions to slip free of the chains.

Before Violetta can react, Medusa swings her scythe. The impact sends her flying.

Lain is already moving, sword raised, intercepting Medusa's follow-up. Steel clashes against steel. Sparks fly as they exchange blows, but he's slower. He's bleeding, dizzy. The hit from that Master Vampire earlier - he's not healing.

Medusa swings downward, her scythe aimed for his throat.

Lain barely blocks in time.

His arms scream from the force, and his boots scrape against the train floor as he's pushed back.

"I'm going to use it!" Lain shouts.

Violetta's heart stops. No.

"Lain, don't! You'll die!"

Medusa lunges.

Violetta moves to intercept, but she's still off balance.

'I won't make it in time!'

Medusa brings her scythe down.

But she hesitates.

Violetta stares. Medusa's eyes…

The blood-red glow flickers, replaced with blue.

A single tear slips down her cheek.

"Mina…" Violetta breathes, her voice breaking.

The moment shatters.

Medusa roars, thrashing, tearing at her own skin like she's fighting something inside her.

Lain doesn't wait.

"I'm sorry, Violetta."

His sword ignites.

A towering firebird erupts behind him, wings spread wide.

"REBIRTH FLAME!"

The train explodes in light.

The train derails.

It crashes into the burning city, tearing through buildings. Metal shatters, flames consume, and the night sky turns white-hot.

A moment later, it's over.

Everything is silent.

Only one survivor stirs from the wreckage.

Violetta.

Lain is gone. Mina - gone.

Consumed by the flames.

And somewhere, in the endless void of death, Lain drifts.

…

'Well, it's my first time doing this. What now?'

Lain speaks quietly to himself as he floats in empty space, a void of complete blackness.

This must be the end of the world. 

Suddenly, an image appears before him, projecting straight out of his mind. Some kind of screen.

[Welcome to the Character Selection Process! We see you have previously made a character. Your gender is set to 'Male'. Would you like to be reborn as Male?]

Lain shrugs. "Sure." The novelty of dying was fast-fading.

[Due to high volume, the number of eligible hosts to be reborn into is: Zero. The following reasons are listed why: Reason 1 - World-ending Apocalypse]

"Wait, zero!?" Lain shouts, flailing his arms into the void. "What's the point of having rebirth power if I can't be reborn!? What if I pick female?"

Another message pops up. He hears the words in his head as he reads them. They are narrated by a tinny, feminine voice that sounds way too optimistic. 

[There is one eligible child who has not received a soul yet located in –-Dimartino—. This child is 'D' Rank. The following reasons are listed why: Reason 1 - Orphan. Reason 2 - Currently Adrift in the Ocean. Reason 3 - No natural mana.]

"Well, that sure sounds like a steal, huh?"

[You are welcome to wait for a new birth. Currently, no women are pregnant. Estimate for new birth: More than 1000 days. The following reasons are listed why: Reason 1 - World-ending Apocalypse]

"Yeah, yeah. I get it. I'll take the orphan. How old is he?"

A new message. [Your eligible reincarnation target is now four years old. Since this child has already been born, your memories will be sealed until the child is sixteen years old.]

Lain tries to slam his fist in disbelief, but he's floating in a void. Nothing to slam on.

"What!?" Lain stammers. "Twelve years!? No way I can wait that long. If you haven't noticed, the world-ending apocalypse is RIGHT NOW!"

There's no immediate response. Is the system thinking?

[We understand, and we apologize for the inconvenience. As a gesture of goodwill, we will reset the child's location. The child will no longer be adrift in the ocean.]

"So I won't die immediately. You gotta do better than that. Come on! I'm a legendary hero!"

[To provide you with excellent customer service, a live-service representative will be with you soon. Please hold.]

Elevator music starts playing in the void. Lain buries his face in his hands. "You have got to be kidding me…"

After about three minutes of music, the sound suddenly cuts out.

Another message appears in front of Lain. This one is not voiced aloud. He squints his eyes to read it.

[Behind you.]

"Aah!" he yelps before even turning around. He peers over his shoulder, shivering. Expecting to see something hideous. But what he sees instead is a beautiful young woman with long white hair - so long it is woven in a delicate braid around her body like a dress. It's covering all the important parts, but not leaving much to the imagination.

"You must be the 'legendary hero'. Welcome. I am Zelia. I am your assigned Administrator."

Lain scratches his head. "So…"

Zelia tilts her head. "I have reviewed your request. You appear to be dissatisfied because you are being reborn as a guileless orphan and you will have your memories sealed for twelve years. Is that correct?"

Lain blinks slowly and gives Zelia a sour scowl.

"I have received authorization to grant your new body a magic power. This magical power is classified as 'B' Rank and can be evolved into an 'S' Rank skill. Do you accept?"

Zelia talks just like the System voice did, but there's a hint of dry, snarky wit in her words.

Lain thinks for a moment. His Rebirth Flame is a Secret Art of the 'S' Rank, and even if he's reborn into a new human, he'll never lose it. With this, he could have two S Rank abilities.

"Hell yeah," Lain says, punching his hands together. "See, that's what I'm talking about!"

Zelia claps her hands together. "Wonderful. If you ever need any help, here's my direct line. Call me anytime!"

Zelia zaps a card with a series of numbers on it into Lain's hand. Now he can talk to his 'Administrator' whenever he wants. If he can even remember what the card is for in his new life.

"So, what's the skill?" Lain asks, excited.

Zelia is already walking away, her bare feet leaving sparkling footprints behind in the void. 

"Check your System Messages. All the info should be there!"

Zelia vanishes, and Lain turns around. Sure enough, another window has popped up.

"Congratulations, you now have B-Rank…Crab Affinity?"

Lain thrashes in the void, shouting at the top of his lungs. "What the hell kind of skill is this!?"

As he yells, everything around Lain grows black. When he next opens his eyes, he's four years old. Alone, scared, and clutching onto just one thing - a card with strange symbols on it.

And though his memories are sealed, the image of a woman with long white hair sears into his mind. 

He remembers her.